Elephant Head Peak Santa Rita Mountains Southern Arizona

Murray Bolesta's iconic Mountain Photography - Southern Arizona's Natural Sculpture

A very prominent rocky outcropping of the Santa Rita Mountains of southern Arizona in the Santa Cruz River Valley, if you look at it from the side, Elephant Head looks precisely like that, with a long trunk extending straight forward into the valley. It's one of my favorite photography subjects due to its central location and spectacular steepness, especially dramatic during gorgeous stormy periods in this Sky Island Mountain region.

Hollywood's Arizona Backdrop

Elephant Head served as the dramatic backdrop to the 1940 movie "The Westerner" with Gary Cooper, among many other Western films that utilized this distinctive landmark's cinematic appeal.

Santa Cruz Valley Heritage

The Santa Cruz River Valley, stretching from Nogales through Tubac, Tumacácori, and north toward Tucson, has supported ranching since Spanish colonial times. Mining booms in nearby mountains brought fortune seekers in the 1800s, while the valley's dramatic landscapes attracted Hollywood filmmakers throughout the 20th century. The Sky Island ecosystem creates unique biodiversity where desert grasslands meet mountain forests.

Arizona Landmark Wall Art

My art prints celebrate Elephant Head's sculptural beauty and the Santa Rita Mountains' majesty—perfect for Arizona enthusiasts, Western film buffs, and lovers of distinctive Southwestern landscapes.